monthly news round up
taxi talk
Council failing more ageing taxis on safety
Nearly one third of older Hackney Carriages operating in Wokingham failed road safety tests for reasons including brakes, steering and tyres. Figures released by Wokingham Borough Council show there were 119
public as part of a review of the way the council licenses older vehicles.
Last month the council’s licensing committee decided to place an age restriction of 15 years on licensing new Hackney Carriages as a result
age brackets and councillors will be asked to review their decision next year based on the latest information. She said there are no Hackney Carriages over 15 years licensed in Wokingham at present, however any cars that do become affected by the new rules will be given time to replace their vehicle.
The change in licensing rules came after taxi drivers raised concerns with the council about the state of some of the older vehicles on the borough’s
plated as cabs, but in Bracknell they must be no older than four years. A report examined by members of the council’s licensing and appeals committee said: “It is clear there are a far larger proportion of vehicles
and tyres which would have been easy for the drivers to check and rectify before the vehicles were taken for the test.” A breakdown for the reason the older taxis failed tests shows most failed for lighting issues and
Attacked cabbie blasts jail terms
handed to two men who throttled him during a
been stunned after Keith Cullen and Kenneth
convictions between them, have left the Wearside family man suffering nightmares and anxious about working. Cullen and Musgrave hailed a taxi from Sunderland railway station after spending the afternoon drinking in the William
recently. They asked to be taken to the County
driver to stop on the way.
wanted to use the toilet. The driver pulled over
him from behind and held him tightly by the neck. He was forced from the car and describes how he nearly passed out. The driver came to and saw Musgrave in the driver’s seat of his Ford Tourneo revving the engine. Bravely, he
got up from the road and grabbed the keys, at which point Musgrave ran off.” The court heard
taxi. “Any attempt to drive it away was frustrated
helped drag Cullen from the taxi.”
Close, Great Lumley, each admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and attempted vehicle taking on November 11 last year. The court was told Cullen has 41 previous
attempt to take the taxi was not planned and was carried out when they were intoxicated.
George, 59, who did not want to give his surname for fear of reprisals, said: “It’s not long enough, as everybody says. I don’t work as many
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hours as I used to and I was getting nightmares.
it was the worst assault he had ever seen.”
could see, such as lighting and tyres.”
Faisel Ali Fateh, member of Wokingham Taxi Association, said placing an age restriction on licensed Hackney Carriages would place more of a
have to comply with.”
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